Corn husker



Aug. 3, 1943. c, 5,. 2,325,859

CORN HUSKER' Filed July 22; 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 1 F'IE .J

CHARLES E.' KERR Aug. 3, 1943. c. E. KERR CORN HUSKER Filed July 22,1949 s Sheets-Sheet 2 iE-iEi; EL

' jvwc/nbom CHARLES E KERR C. E. KERR CORN HUS KER Aug.- 3, 1943.

, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet -3 giled July 22 CHARLES K5012 Mocha;

'n'epih mechanism taken along 1ihEs'?- 1-Of Patented Aug. 3, 1943 7 V mmHUSKER Charies E. Keri, Hobpston,

Maehinerynqrpaiation, sax-1 J'o'se, Ca1i f.,a eerpo ratien er Delaware rfor husking green corn and illtes particular-1y 179 an i-mprevea hueripping mechaifism fof piepariiig the earshf cor'h' ier the husk-ihe'pra tioh; An ehjeet er the preeehtihvehtibhis t6 pie: virie a "comHusker wither; impreve'e husk rippifig mechanism-fez fleein ershieeeihgthe er themes of eer'h to provide projecting p'OftZ'n-n forengagement by the huskieg hails ''f the meehine; v V r r Ailother objectis be prev iie a ceih huskei which comprises an im'hreveii huek riepine:h'eeh ani'srh forgri t e'r shretmihg the husks at uiiiferih depthirrespective of the size oi the ea r's of COIl'l.

Fig. 2 is a ieitemi View at Fig i, er: 1

time being shown in section Fig. 3 1's a 'view'ei t epo-rtieh of the eere anism of the taken along lines in Fig. 4. r r I Fig. 7 is a tiensverse's ectieh th'reu'gh the lower Fig.6..v it h i h drawings; high-1 to;ieeius'ive iiihst'rate a heitieh ei-h embodyin the present iia'yeiiti'bhwhich :orhpf-i se"s iiaae i stiucteee cbfhtit's time 6- (if a cornAnetiief' ehjeetisteprovide husk rippin wheel it fixed to (me emthereof. The Spfcket 2 and 3, respectively, ofthe frame I and carries aspiocketl'wheel 21 fixed therets' (see Figsw 1 and 3); The "shaft [6 isdriven fram eisource of pow-- er by meens'of a chaintfiz m anyc'onvehient manner; w 1 Sebu'red-to theehd-less chainsfi anti 6 anti ext'ehdihg' transversely e: the machine are 0021- veyhi bars 2.3 providefiwith cut away portibhs 24; 'Positihned below the transverse bars 23 andextending L transversely. he ress the: machine between the upper run ofthe chainsi and Ms 2,.

table 25. Mounted etijacent the frame portions 2 and 3 on beth sides atthe mhchih'e'are lower geugemembers' 3e a n'e si secured to the sidepor'tiehs'. the frame in hey'eonvenient manner, and pesitie ned abovethe same for cooperation therewith upper gauge shoes Rand -33rsupe'rtedhye'rms 3a aha respectively, which are eiveteiiy seeuteti to the sideportions "2. ends 'U-f the frame structure, as clearly she'wh at m and4:, The aha-sea a'n'c1'3'5 are provided with set time as ah'd 39,respectively, hi the heme memhere 2 she a to thereby limit the dewmvamm'ev'e'hiehter the ghugeshoes Hand 33.

Byiflljnillfilafihg the setserevrs 36 and" 31 the" on eith'e gaugemembers 62 and 33; with fep'etftb the iewe r 'ge ugem'emberese 'a'fid 3may be accurately adjusted.v

Piteteiiy mounted linen the shaft it ar'eerms e2 athe- 431 'revieed withmembers 54 and I aha table Ihtthih, BBS?) S'li fibi'n Fig; '3. membersate hositidn'ed itltermeeii'ate the ufipl gauge shb'e'sfi 'a n d abovethe table ZE-tntlbibjt ihto the exit-awa portions 24 of the transversebars 23,50 that they 'withthe epeietio'ngof the same.

are keyed tip'eh a fote'tehiyfii-btiht e within hearings eh the eertiehs 2f aha the the aha erdv ideewith a spihehet eemneeh; beiew thetame 2's at the machine afid eiiteheing through epenihags 4-6 and 41there oft e Fig.3) eree'ar mover g arset and -49,

wh ch e're d iven a'dire'ctiefi as indicated by ftih te-shi-f't the earset-wen in trah s'veise di' sehtihns toward the gauge members 3%, 32 anti3i serespeeuveiy. 1 k I v V ele ant-traction o'f 'these ear ii'ievergears 4 s, 4 9 anfl theii-essdc'i-ateflmechanism is well knownspectively, hositiohe' i ehe've the eenveyer 25 at each aside ef theThese presser do not ihte re' 7 any Suitable mechanism, not shwil'a 3 Gin the art and does not form a part of the present invention. For adisclosure of these parts reference is made to Patent No. 2,177,988issued to C. E. Kerr on October 31, 1939.

The downward movement of the presser members 44 and 45 is limited bymeans of set screws 59 and 5!, which engage sleeves 52 and 53,respectively, fixed upon a shaft 54. The shaft 54 is rotatably arrangedwithin bearings of the frame portions 2 and 3 and extends transverselyof the machine. This shaft carries circular debutting knives 68 and SIpositioned in proximity to the side frame members 2 and 3, respectively.These circular debutting knives 69 and 6| cooperate with stationarydebutting blades 62 and 63 se-' cured to the side members of the frameI.

The shaft 54 is provided with a sprocket wheel 64 fixed thereto which isoperatively connected by means of a sprocket chain 65 with a sprocketwheel 66, rotatably mounted upon stud shaft 61 (see Fig. 2). The studshaft 61 is fixed within a socket 68secured to the side wall 3 of themachineand carries a pinion 69 which is integral with the sprocket wheel66 and intermeshes with a pinion I9 fixed upon the shaft I5 of themachine, so that upon rotation of the shaft I6 in a direction asindicated by an arrow in Fig. 1 the circular debutting knives 69 and BIare rotated in the direction of the arrow II.

The rear end of the table 25 is curved in a downward directionand'terminates at (Fig. 3). Positioned opposite the rear end 150i thetable 25 and extending transversely across the machine is a dischargechute I6 leading downwardly and forwardly below the conveyor mechanismI, as best seen in Fig. 1. 7

Upon operation of the machine the ears of corn are placed between thetransverse bars 23 in two files upon the table 25 adjacent the sidesthereof with the axis of the corn parallel to the transverse bars andwith their butt ends toward the sides of the machine. Thereupon the earsof corn are-advancedby the bars 23'of the conveyor mechanism toward thepresser members 44 and 45 and the ear mover gearsj48 and 49 which shiftthe ears in transverse directions toward the gauge members 39, 32 and3I, 33, respectively, which position the butt ends of the corn in properpredetermined re1ation with respect to the debutting knives 69 and 6|;The presser arms 44 and 45 are adapted to hold the ears in propercontact with the ear mover gears 48 and 49 during the transversemovement of the ears above referred to. I

During further travel of the ears the butt ends thereof are,severed'therefrom by'the 'debutting knives and subsequently the ears aredischarged from the table 25 and drop into the discharge chute I6 whichdelivers the same to husking rolls of any suitable construction, notshown,-for removal of the husks therefrom. Thereupon, the husked ears ofcorn are discharged from the machine. 7 J

Positioned intermediate the presser members 44, 45 and the dischargechute I6 above the table 25 of the machine are husk ripping mechanisms89 and ill (see Figs. 2 and 3) for ripping and shredding the ears toprovide projecting husk portions for engagement by the husking rolls ofthe machine. Both of these husk ripping mechanisms are of the sameconstruction and operate in the same manner so that the description ofone will be sufiicient for the purposes herein.

Each of these husk ripping mechanisms 89 and 8 I, as will be clearlyseen from Figs, 1, 3 and 4, consists of an upper ripper 82 and a lowerripper 83. The upper ripper structure 82 comprises a main ripper bracket84 pivotally supported on shaft I6 and provided at its forward end witha plurality of spaced guide members 85 pivotally secured thereto at 86and held in a predetermined position with respect thereto by means ofadjustment screws 81. Pivotally mounted within the main ripper bracket84 between vertical ribs 84a and 84b thereof by means of a pivot pin 88is a ripper actuating arm 89 provided with a plurality of ripper holders99 pivotally secured thereto by means of a pivot shaft 9 I, as will bebest seen from Figs. 4 and 5. The ripper holders 99 are spaced withrespect to each other and extend in downward directions with the holder99 directly above the bracket 84 extending through an opening 92therein. .Thejripper holders 99 are provided at their lower ends withripper elements 93, which extend through openings 95 in the guidemembers 85 and are adjustably secured thereto by meansof set screws 94.

The free end 96 of the ripper actuating arm 89 is provided with a roller91 rotatably carried thereon which is adapted to engage an actuating cam98 fixed toshaft I6 in any convenient manner. A coil spring I99interposed between the ripper actuating arm 89 and the main ripperbracket 84 maintains the roller 91 in engagement with the cam 98 duringthe rotation of the latter. The cam 98 is provided with a circular camsurface I95 and a straight cam surface I96, so that during rotation ofthey cam 98 the ripper actuating arm 89 will be oscillated around itspivot pin 88, causing reciprocation of the ripper elements 93 invertical directions.

When the roller 91 is engaged with thecircular cam surface the ripperelements 93 are in their lowermost position in which they project apredetermined distance below the lower surface of the guide members 85,while when the roller 91 is in engagement with the straight cam surfaceI96 the ripper elements 93 are retracted into the openings 95 of theguide members 65 under the action of the coil spring I99. p,

Pivotally secured to the main ripper brackets 84 of each rippermechanism89 and BI at H9 are supporting rods I I I extending throughopenings II2 of supporting brackets II3 secured to the frame portions 2and 3, respectively; The upper end of the supporting rods II I arethreaded and provided with nuts I I4 adapted to engage the supportingbrackets II3, so as to maintain the main ripper brackets 84 and therebythe entire upper ripper assemblies 89 and 8| in predeterminedpositions'above the table 25 of the machine. By turning the nuts H4 inone or the Each of these lower ripper mechanisms consists of asupporting bracket I2I secured to the table at I22 and provided with abearing portion I23 within which a guard plate I24 is pivotally mountedby means of a pivot pin I25. Pivotally secured to the supporting bracketI2I by means a of a pivot pin I39 (see Figs. 6 and 'I) is a ripperholder I3I withinwhich ripper elements I32 are adjustably mounted by ofset screws 13;.

vTheripper elements 132' extendjn. upward die rections', and the guardplate, I24 isflprovided with openings I34 through which the rippingelements {32 are adapted to-proiect. Interposed between the supportingbracket 121.; and the guard plate I24 and held: against-removal by"members 85, and. any'adhering .huskportions are is adapted-to engagetheeportion 25a of the table 25' seats to limit the upward movement of theguard plate, aswill be best seen. from Fig. 4, while the" downward.movementpf the .Qguard plate [.24 is limited by meansof a set screw L33adjustablyr mounted within the supporting bracket E21.

From the above it will therefore. be seen that upon downward movement ofthe guard plate 124 against the tension of the spring 135 the ripperelements I32 will project through the openings I34and-extendaboverthe-upper surface ofthe guard platel24. j

The pivotal movement of the ripper. holder Hi and ripper elements 132-around pivot pin 130 'is very limited but necessary toi'per mit a freemovement of the guard plate 1245 with respect to the ripperelements'lfi.

The ripper elements l32vare positioned intermediate theripper elements83, as best seen from Fig; '2, and all of these ripper 'elementsuare inalignment transversely of the machine. The free 7 7 ends of the ripperelements 93 "and I32 are notched as indicated to provide sharp'cuttingiedges pointing downwardly -and upwardly, respectivelypin directionsopposite to the direction of travel of the ears of corn."

-While the ears are advanced from the? de-' butting knives towardethedischargeichutc l6 and travel past the husk ripping .mechanisms theguide members 85 of the upper ripper structures are engaged by the sameand the ripper.- elements 7 93 are elevated into proper. relation withrespect to the ears. At the same time, the ears; travelover the guardplates 124 and .due to their weight and the weight of the upper rippermechanisms resting upon thersame the guard plates I24are depressedagainst the tensionroi the coil: springs 35 so that the ripper elementsI32 will-project through the openings I314 aboverthe upper surfaces ofthe guard plates 11 24. Whilethe ears of corn now approach the upper andlower ripper elements 93 and 1732 the upper ripper elements aremovedtotheir lowermost positiomras shown"- in Fig.4, in which theyproject a-predetermined distance belowthe lower surfaces iof'tiie'guide' memberstiif r The downwardmov'ement of the ripper elemerits93 is efiectedbythe operation-"oi theca-m 58 whichlis'so positioned uponthe [6, that the downward me t ithe r1 er? e emen s .i3 will be effectedtimed relation with respect to the operation of the conyeyor mechanism[.7 In otherwords, it an ear o1 corn passessthe c3 willc'e in'rthirlcwsrmost positio so that i ipping'of the husks of the ears travellingpast mechani m, the straight surface in? of the cam E85 is opposite theroller 51 so that the ripping V mechanisms 83 without interferingwiththeop A u er ripper mechanism l the ipper elements elements 93 areretracted by the action ofthe.

el ee, 5 in qihe eeeiaes .Sio t e: uid

thereby-removed fromthe tipping elements 83.:

In like manner, as soon a'stheear of cornrhas passed the, lowerripperstructuren83 the-pres: 1 sure of the spring [35810112513116 guard plate124 toiit-s uppermost positiomasshown in Fig. 4, in whicht-heplateextendsiabove the upper ends 'Qf.

the ripper elements 132 so. that: any adhering husk portions are removedfrom the same. i

lntthis m nner a very effectiv ripping of the ripper mechanism withrespect to each ear of cornice efiected' irrespective oi the sizethereof; ln'l nactice each upper ripper mechanism is so adjusted bymanipulation f the-huts ,4 brine supporting rod lll that-theguardfmembers 85 will properlyengage the smallest ear of corn handled.hy the machine. 7 v 1 The depth oi cut'cf the rippfir elements as may 1be proper y gauged byadiustm the position of the guide members sewithres ect to the upper ripper elements Q3 upon manipidaticn ofth-eadjustment screws 8?, while the depth of out of the rip erelements 132is regulated upon rotationof set screw I33, by which the extent ordownwardmovementof the guard'plate I24 andthe projection of the ripperelements above the upper surface of the gua d plate is adjusted, Therfere;

in view of the above and the floating arrangement of the upper-ripperstructure, gouging of the kernels oi the ears ofcorn iseflectivelyeliminated irrespective of thesize of corn handled bythemachine- Y Y rConsequently, wh e t e a s n rav lnas the ripping mechanism of themachine the ripa pine ielements of the upp r and lo er-v r ppers'project a uniform distance into the path of the ears irrespective oftheir size ahd efiiciently rip the husks thereof without damaging thekernels of the eorn,- This important where whole grain corn is beinggpackecl because insuch cases it is essentialnot t0 go g thekernels f her "The upper r epere ements new guide/meme, j

bers 85' are positioned inalignment'with the out,

awaylportions '24 ofithe conveyo ars 23-50 tha they do not contactthgsame when the ripper s t they may mov past theJlOWT ipper erationofxthe v guard plates lzliand lower ripper elementsljlir i It shouldfurther be noted that.inpview er the V alignment of the upper-and lower"ripper elements transversely of the machine the husks of each-ear ofcorn-are simultaneouslyengaged,b

the upper and-lower rippingelements so that turning of the ears'duririgthe ripping operation 'iSIJI'QVBIltBd. 7 p f f' While I have shown anddescribed a preferred embodiment of my invention, such invention iscapable of modification and variation without-Ge parting-from the:spirit and scope thereof, as

defined in the claims appended hereto.

' -fiaving-thus dcscribed my invention, when claim 'and desireitoprotect by Letters; R test is: a o n huskerrhus pping"means,a conveyorfor-mov n the ears of com past 511118 husk ripping means, a movable'bracketymeans.

moving means including means for maintaining the 'same limits of rippingengagement of said ripping means for allpositions of said gauge means.

8. In a cornhusker, means for'moving ears of corn along a predeterminedpath for engagement by huskripping means, a depressible gauge normallyprojecting into said path, a husk ripper operably associated with saiddepressible gauge and positioned for ripping engagement with ears ofcorn moved alongsaid path, a movablegauge opposite said depressiblegauge and adapted to 2. In a corn husker, pivotally mounted gauge meansfor engaging the ears of corn, husk ripping means pivotally' mounted onsaidgauge means, means for advancing the ears past the gauge and huskripping means, and means for moving the husk rippingmeans relative tothe gauge means into and out of rip-ping position for engagement withthe husks of the ears.

3. In a corn husker, pivotally -mounted gauge means for engaging theears of corn, husk rip ping means pivotally mounted on the gauge means,a conveyor for advancing'the ears past the gauge and husk ripping means,and means for moving the husk ripping means relative to the gauge meansinto and out of-ripping position for engagement/with the husks of theears in timed relationwith respect to the conveyor.

' 4. In a corn husker, pivotally mounted gauge means for engaging theears of corn, husk ripping means -pivotally mounted on said gauge means,means for advancing the ears past the gauge and husk ripping means,whereby upon engagement of the ears with the gauge means the huskripping means are held in predeter mined relation with respect to theears, and means for moving the husk ripping means a predetermineddistance relative to the gauge means into and out of'ripping engagementwith'the husks of the ears irrespective of the position of the gaugemeans. V

5.'In a corn husker pivotally mounted gauge means for engaging the earsof corn, husk'ripping means pivotally mounted on said gauge means, meansfor advancing the ears past the gauge and husk ripping means, means formov' .ing the husk ripping means relative to the gauge means into andout of ripping position for engagement with the husks of the ears, andmeans for adjusting the position of the gauge means relative to the huskripping means to vary the depth of cut of the husk ripping means,

6. In a corn husker, movable gaugemeans' engaging ears of corn andmovable in response torvariations in'size of said ears, husk rippingmeans independently movable relative to'said gauge means and unaffectedby movement of said gauge-means, means foradvancing'ears of corn pastsaid gauge means and husk ripping means .for engagement'thereby, andmeans for moving said husk ripping means into and out of rippingposition for engagement with the husks of said ears of corn.

7. In a corn husker, movable husk ripping means, gauge ,means forgauging the cutting depth of said ripping'means, and movable in'respOnsetodifferences in size'of ears of-corn engaged thereby, means foradvancingiears of corn past said gauge means and'ripping means forengagement thereby, and means for moving said ripping means relative tosaid gauge means into and out of ripping position for engagement withthe. husks of said ears of corn; said ripper for I 1 accommodatediiferent sizes of cars of corn, a husk 'ripper' independently movablerelative to said movable gauge and means for moving said independentlymovable ripper. into a predetere depressible gauge means normallyprojecting ripping engagement with the earsfa rigid gaugeinto said pathfor engagement-with ears of corn in said path, ripper means associatedWith said depressible'gauge means and positioned for ripping engagementwith ears of corn intercepted thereby, gravity acting gauge means toengage said ears concurrently with said depressible gauge means andadapted to accommodate ears of different size, ripping means movablymounted upon said gravity gauge means and movable with said gravitygauge means without altering its position relative thereto, and meansfor moving said movable ripping means into and out of ripping positionfor engaging ears of corn intercepted by said gravity gauge means.

10. In a corn husker, pivotally mounted gauge means for engaging'ears'of corn, husk ripping means movably mounted on said gauge means, meansfor advancing the ears past said gauge means and husk ripping means forengagement thereby, and. means coaxial with the pivot of said gaugemeans for moving said ripping means relative to said gaugemeans into andout of ripping position fori engagement with the husks of said ears. V,

--11. In a corn husker,va-table'forming a path for the ears of corn,husk ripping means adjacent the table and extending-into said path forripping engagementvwith the ears, arigid gauge plate movablymounted onsaid table and closely-positioned with respect to the husk rippingmeans, means,normally'projecting the plateinto said path beyond theripping means to sheath the 'same,'and means for conveying the earsoversaid'table along said pathto' engage and depress said plate and toexpose the husk ripping means for ripping-engagement with the-ears.

12,. In. a corn husker, attable forming a path for the ears of corn,husk ripping means adiacent thetable and extending into said path forplate movably mounted' on, said table and closely positioned Withrespect to the husk ripping means, means normally projecting the plateinto said'path beyondthe rippingmeans to sheath the same, means forconveying the ears over said table along said path to engage and depresssaid plate and to expose the husk ripping means for ripping engagementwith the'ears, and means for limiting the movement of the plate to gaugethe depth of cutof the ripping means.

--13.' In acornhusker, a table forming a path for the ears of corn andincluding a movably mounted seotionhaving an opening, husk rippingmeans'mounted below said table and extending through the opening of saidsection into said path, -means normally projecting the section into saidpath beyond the ripping means to sheath the same, and means forconveying the ears over the table alongsaid path to engage and depresssaid section and to expose the husk ripping means for ripping engagementwith the ears of corn.

14, In a corn husker, a table forming a path for the ears of corn andincluding a movably mounted section'having, an opening, husk rippingmeans mounted below said table and extending through the opening of saidsection into said path, means normally projecting the section into saidpath beyond the ripping means to sheath the same, means, for conveyingthe ears over the table along said path to engage and depress saidsection and to expose the husk ripping means for ripping engagement withthe ears of corn, and means for adjusting the movement of said sectionto gauge the depth of cut of the ripping means.

15. In a corn husker, means forming a path, means for moving the ears ofcorn along said path, adjustable gauge means movably projecting intosaid path for engaging the ears traveling therealong, husk ripping meansmovable on said gauge means, and means for moving the husk ripping meansrelative tothe gauge means into and out ofripping position forengagement with the husk of the ears.

16. In a corn husker, reciprocable husk ripping means, a conveyor formoving the ears of corn past said ripping means, means for moving thehusk ripping means into and out of ripposition for engagement with .thehusks of the ears during the travel of the ears past the ripping means,means for gauging the depth of cut of the husk ripping means, and meansfor adjusting said gauging means with respect ,to the husk ripping meansfor varying the depth of out thereof.

17. In a corn huskeihuskrripping means, a

conveyor for moving the ears of corn past the husk ripping means, meansfor movably supporting the husk ripping means,'means for reoiprocatingthe husk ripping means for moving.

the same into and out of ripping position for engagement with the husksmeans movably mounted on said supp rting means and engageable with theears for gauging the depth of cut of the husk ripping means,- and meansfor adjusting the gauge means relative to the supporting means forvarying the depth of cut of the husk ripping means.

18. In a corn husker, means forming a path,

means for moving the ears of corn along said path, oppositely disposedgauge means movably projecting into said path for engaging the earstraveling therealong, husk ripping means associated with each of saidgauge means, one of said ripping means being mounted upon andindependently movable relative to its gauge means,

and means for moving said independently movable ripping means into andout of ripping position.

CHARLES E. KERR.

of said ears, gauge I Patent No. 2,525,859.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

. August 5 9%- CHARLES E. KERR.

It is hereby. certified thet, errorappears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows Page firstcolumn, line 1 1, claim L after ripping. insert -position for--; andthat the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctionthereinethat the same may conform to the record of thecase in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of December, A. D. 19%.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents

